Today we, the Northern Luzon Commission for the Biblical Apostolate with the staff of the John Paul I Biblical Center wish you a meaningful celebration for the gift of life. We are very grateful for your constant accompaniment, your journeying with us “together on the road” with our hearts burning with fire inspired by your example as ever true and faithful lover of the Word.

We wish you all the best as we pray for your special intentions on your special day. Happy birthday Apo Wim… the JPIBC will not be what it is now without your contributions as the second DIRECTOR of our biblical center.

Rev. Fr. Marcelo C. Cantorna, the Parish Priest of St. James the Great, Santiago, Ilocos Sur with Ms. Agnes Torres the lay biblical apostolate coordinator of Nueva Segovia invited the staff of the John Paul I Biblical Center for Northern Luzon to conduct the Basic Bible Seminar at the said parish for two weekends from September 22-23 and September 29-30, 2007. The participants are coming from 19 barangays with a total number of 67. Fr. Cantorna is very much active in implementing the biblical apostolate program in his parish to re-inforce their main thrust the building of Basic Ecclesial Comminuties or the BEC. Fr. Cantorna strongly believes that the foundation of a successful and lasting BEC program should be the Word of God, the Sacred Scriptures.

The college seminarians of Northern Luzon who are undergoing their priestly formation at the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary in Bonuan-Gueset, Dagupan City of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan made their annual retreat last August 27-30, 2007 at the MHCCS with the theme: “God’s Word the Foundation of our Call and Vocation”. Forty five college seminarians deepened their discernment of their call and vocation in the light of the Sacred Scripture as future clergy of Northern Luzon. Community life founded on the Word of God for them was the strongest factor that shines forth as they continue to journey together inspired by the way of life and Gospel values lived by the early Christian Communities in the New Testament. Fr. Doms Ramos, SVD the director of the John Paul I Biblical Center facilitated the retreat made possible through the invitation of Fr. Julius Cuison the spiritual director of the Seminarians.

Msgr. Gary Formoso the new Archdiocesan Biblical Director of Nueva Segovia recently announced to all the clergy the newest TV program on the Biblical Apostolate nationwide hosted by Ms. Elvira Go at NBN-4 every Tuesday evening at 7:00 to 7:30. Msgr. Gary encouraged the whole clergy of Nueva Segovia to announce the TV program in all their masses last Sunday. This Catholic Religious TV Program proves that the Bible can be the source of Unity in families, communities and the whole country as well.

The first episode was aired tonight with His Emminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal in Cebu City high-lighting the chapter of love from 1 Cor. 13 – the good cardinal gave emphasis on Love in the Bible as the only principle that will unite people.

The Northern Luzon Commission for the Biblical Apostolate congratulates, supports and recommends to the whole Church of Northern Luzon: THE POWER TO UNITE!

The staff of the John Paul I Biblical Center conducted recently the Basic Bible Seminar to all the SVD seminarians at the Divine Word Formation Center in Urdaneta City last August 24-26, 2007. The BBS was made possible through the invitation ofFr. Servas Wagimantethun, SVD the prefect of the seminarians who was on home vacation in Indonesia when the seminar was finally realized. The SVD community with Fr. Randolf Botial, SVD, Fr. Bernard Teneza, SVD, Fr. Elmer Loreto, SVD, Fr. Jess del Rosario, SVD and Brother Fred Corton, SVD warmly welcomed the staff of the JPIBC (Flor Dacquigan, Fely Gines, Zusan Asistin and Fr. Doms Ramos, SVD). It was Brother Fred who took care of the seminarians and the facilitators on the conduct of the BBS in the absence of Fr. Servas. The future 21 SVDs were so grateful with their hearts burning as they experienced the Divine Word journeying with them through the BBS. They are hoping and looking forward to the Biblbiodrama experience by next semester.